Sea ducks
Common Eider
Somateria mollissima
A heavyset sea duck whose famously soft down lines its nest.
- Length
- 50–71 cm
- Wingspan
- 80–110 cm
- Weight
- 1.3–2.6 kg
- Conservation status
- Near Threatened
About this duck
Common eiders live along cold northern coasts, diving for mussels, crabs and sea urchins in rough, shallow seas. Females pluck soft down from their own breasts to line the nest and keep the eggs warm. People gather this eiderdown by hand from wild, protected colonies, most famously in Iceland, which produces most of the world's supply.
How to spot one
Drakes are crisp black and white with a pale green wash on the back of the neck. Females are warm brown, closely barred with black. Both have a long, wedge-shaped bill that slopes straight up into the forehead.